Aerodrome.



H. A. ORME.

AERODROME.

APPLICATION EILED JAN 26, 1900.

926,593. Patented June 29. 1909.

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AERODROME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1009.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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H. A. ORME.

AERODROME.

APPLICATION n ED JAN.26.1909.

Patented. June 29, 1909.

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ABRODBOME.

APPLICATION FILED mums. 1909.

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HARRY A. ORME, OF WESLEY HEIGHTS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AERODROME.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRYA. ORME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beechwood, Wesley Heights, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerodromes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and-exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make andyuse the same, reference being-had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the class of aerial navigation but more particularly to an aerodrome, and my invention has for its object to provide an aerodrome having three planes arranged one above the other, the highest, or what will be hereinafter termed the controlling plane, being employed solely as a steadyingand guiding means, and may also be employed in cases of emergency in order to revent the aerodrome from losing its e uili riuni so that in descending the acrop ane will maintain its normal relative posltion.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel construction in the front or fore planes, and a further object of my invention is to rovide a novel construction in the rear vertical rudder planes.

W'ith all these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the controlling plane.

My invention also consists 111 the novel construction and arrangement of the front or fore planes.

My invention also consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the rear vertical rudder planes; and my invention also consists in certain other novel features of construction and in combinations of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

teferring to the accompanying drawigg: Figure 1 is a side elevation 'of anaerodromo constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through the controlling plane. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the same in a different Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the ost and arrangement of parts of the control 'ng-plane. .Fig. Sis a plan view Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 26, 1909.

- Patented June 29, 1909.

So in No. 474,280.

Fig. 11 b anend elevationofthe rudder pla Fig. 12 is 5. side elevation of thesame. 1 1g.

.13 is an end elevation of the rudder planes showing the vertical planes distended and Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the rudder planes. Like characters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures.

in which;

1 indicates the ,aerodrome which Conn prises the two main planes 2 and. 3, the upper plane 2 being of a length equal to that of the ower plane 3 but slightly wider as shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. Suitable braces or stanchions 4 are employed between the two planes 2 and S in order to securely tie and brace same in their proper relative positions; while the motive power (not shown) is preferably arranged on the lower plane 3 at the center thereotand at a point which will balance the machinewhile the pro )elling mechanism (not shown) is arranged preferably behind the lower plane 3 in any convenient manner.

5 indicates the front or fore planes which as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are supported on the uprights 6 by means of straps 7 (Figs. 8 and. 10), .it being of course understood that all of the planes of themachine are covered with a suitable light and strong covering 8 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The front or fore planes 5 are each formed of two sections 9 and 10, said sections being hinged together at 11 and also hinged to uprights 12 arranged at each end of the front or fore planes 5.

13 indicates a central rod or shaft arranged about midway between the two front or fore planes 5. Carried on said rod 13 are preferably three longitudinal arms 14, said arms 11 being formed of two sections 15 and 16, said sections being hinged together at 17 having their contiguous cnds 18 cutaway at. 19 in order to embrace the central rod 13 as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 1().- Referring, however, to Fig. 10 it will be seen that a pin 20 carried on the hinge 17 passes through the central rod 13 in such manner that rotation of the rod 13 is imparlml to the arms 14. Carried on the rod 13 are. two operat ing arms 21 and 22, from which operating arms wires 23 and 24 lead through blocks '25 arranged on till shown in Fig.

of course clearly apparent.

Connecting each of the front or fore planes 5 with the arms 14 are a series of links 27 so arranged that upon movement of the arms 14 the planes 5 will be correspondingly moved.

Itgwill be seen from Figs. 9 and 10 that two iwires 28 and 29 pass from the forward and ear edge of the lower front or fore plane 5 through blocks 30 located on the transverse piece 26, said wires leading rearwardly to be operated by the aviator. By mean of these wires both the front or fore planes 5 can be thrown into position shown in Fig. 10 so that in case of emergency or in descending the planes can be made to assume the position 10, thus offering a greater air resistance and checking the descent of the. aerodrome. As-is of course apparent that in order to cause the aerodrome to descend the front or fore planes 5 are thrown into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, while the reverse position will cause the aerodrome to ascend.

As will a pear from 31 are emp oyed in order to Fig. 1 suitable braces secure and hold the fore planes 5 in proper relative position,

while skids or runners 32 are employed for the purpose of receiving the shock of descending and also for the purpose of supporting the aerodrome on a launching track.

Referring now to Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 which illustrate the vertical rudder planes 33 and 34 it will be seen that they are connected together at their upper ends by means of a small plane 35,-the vertical planes 33 and 34 being hinged thereto at 36; The lower ends of each of the planes 33 and 34 are provided with a pin 37, the pins 37 operating in slots 38 located in a curved strap 39, said strap 39 being ivoted on a longitudinal piece 40 at the point 41, while the top plane 35 is pivoted to the longitudinal piece 42 at the point 43. An operating rod 44 (Fig. 14) connected to the curved st ap 39 swings the vertical rudder planes 33 and 34 on the pivots 41 and planes 33 and 43 as is of course obvious. As. will appear from Figs, 11 and 12 the vertical rudder 34 are connectedtogether at their lower ends by means of-a spiral spring 45, said spring normally holding the planes inposition shown in Fig. 11. Connected to the pins 37 on the lower end of each of the planes 33 and 34 is an operating wire 46, the wires 46 running from blocks 47 and leading forwardly for convenient manipulation of the aviator; and by means of these wires 46 the vertical rudder planes 33 and 34 can be preferably made 0 names thrown into position shown in Fig. 12 so that in case of emergency or in descending greater air resistance 1s imparted in such manner that the rudder planes 33 and 34 while normally acting in the capacity of the rudderbeeome when in position shown in Fig. 12 an element for oifering resistance while the machine is descending. I

Referring now to the controlling plane 48 1t Wlll be seen that this plane is arranged above the plane 2 and is preferably carried on a post or stanchion 49. The controlling plane 48 is composed of an upper series of arms or braces 50 similar to the arms or braces of a parasol; while a series of similar braces 51 are arranged on the post or stanchion 49 directly under the u perseries of braces 51, each of said series of races 50 and 51.being pivoted at 52 and 53' in such manner that they can be swung into position shown in Fig. 4 or intoJposition shown in dotted lines 1n Fig. 3. Both the upper and lower series of braces 50 and 51 are rovided with a suitable covering 54, while t e cover ing around the outer e ge of the controlling plane upon the up er series of arms 50 is 55, such as thin sheet rubber, in such manner that the same will stretch when the arms are in position shown in Fig. 4. Carried on the end of each of the lower arms 51 is a guidepiece or ti 56, said guide iece or ti 56 being provider in each side t ereof wit a longitudinal slot 57 while the end of each of the upper arms 50 is provided with a plate 58 having two lugs or projections 59 thereon, which lugs or projections 59-0 erate within the slots 57 as clearl shown in Fig. 7. Con

necting each of the ower arms 51 is a rim 60 and to this rim the covering 54 on the u per.

arms 50 is substantially secured. onnected to each of the tips 56 of the lower arms 51 1s a wire 61:, sald wire leading in wardly and is connected to the central post different ti s of the controlling plane are designated by etters 0L, 1;, c, d, e, f and g, a, b and 0 being controlled separately and independently from the tips (1, c and Referring now to Fi 1 it w1ll be seen that wires 0/, b and c lear to the tips a, b and 0, while a similar arrangement'of wires lead to the tips (1, e andf. By means of this construction therefore one series of tips a, b and cfor instance can be carried down into position shown in some resilient material Fig. 3.

position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the other series of tips (1, e andf can be allowed to remain in their normal position as shown in full lines in By lowering either series of tips the aerodrome is caused to turn, as it has been found from experience that a short turn cannot be accom lished solely by meansof'vertical rudder p anes.

Referring again to Fig. 1 it will be seen that a series of wires 63are connected to each' can be caused to assume this form in Ol( er tootfer greater air resistance. By this construction of wires the controlling plane can be altered to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, or merely one side of the tips can be carried down in order to cause the control ling plane to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the controlling plane is of a particular form, the forward arms thereof being very short while the side and rear arms thereof are considerably longer. By means of this construction the tendency of the controlling plane to buckle in an upward direction is en tirely obviated for the reason that were the forward arms as long as the side or after arms the air pressure under the forward arms would tend to raise the same and throw them back, which would throw an undue strain upon the operating wires and disturb the equilibrium of the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention its operation is as follows: In order to cause the aerodrome to ascend the front or fore planes 5 are thrown into the reverse position from that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9; while in order to cause the acrodrome to descend the front or fore planes 5 are thrown into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. In making a slight turn the vertical rudder planes 33 and 34 are swung by means of the operating rod 44 on their pivots 41 and 4-3, but in order to make a sharp turn one series of tips a, b, c or (Z, c andfis carried down into If it is desired to turn to the left considering the machine as shown in Fig. 2 the tips (1 7) and c are depressed; while if it is desired to turn to the right the tips (Z, e and f are depressed; while if it is desired to increase the air resistance as in an emergency or in. descending all of the arms of the controlling plane are do pressed into position shown in Fig. 4 while the front or fore planes are thrown in position shown in Fig. 10 and the vertical rudder planes. are thrown into position shown in Fig. 12, thus balancing the machine, increasing the air resistance thereof and causing it to maintain its proper equilibrium.

It is of course apparent that slight variations ma be made in the construction as shown and described, and it is of course obvious that any operative motive power and propelling mechanism can be employed in connection lowering the tips of said ribs simultaneously and means for lowering the tips independently, a plurality of forward planes, and means for lowering the forward and rear edges of the same, a plurality of rear vertical planes, a horizontal plane connecting said vertical planes together and means for separating the lower portions of said vertical planes.

2. An acrodrome comprising a controlling plane in combination with suitable supporting planes, said controlling plane comprising a series of radial ribs, means for lowering the tips of said ribs simultaneously and means for lowering certain groups of said tips independently. I

3. In an aerodrome the combination with suitable supporting planes, of a controlling "plane arranged above said supporting planes,

arranged one above the other, means for lowcring a portion of the edge of the highest plane independently of the remaining portion of the edge of the highest plane.

6. An aerodrome comprising three planes arranged one above the other and means for operating the highest plane to control the acrodrome.

7. An aerodrome comprising suitable .supporting planes, a plurality of forward horizontal planes and means for lowering the forward and rear edges of said last mentioned .planes simultancously.

8. An acrodromc comprising a suitable supporting plane, a forward plane horizontally pivoted and means for lowering its forward and rear edge simultaneously.

9. An aerodrome comprising a suitable supporting plane, a plurality of vertical rear planes, a horizontal plane connecting the upper ends of said vertical planes and means for separating the lower endsof said vertical planes.

10. An supporting plane, two pivoted vertical steering planes and means for separating the lower ends of said pivoted vertical steering planes.

11. An aerodrome comprising a controlling plane and a suitable supporting plane,

said controlling plane comprising a senes of upper radial ribs, and a series of wer radial ribs. and a sliding connection between the ends' of said upper radial ribs and said lower radial I'lbS. 12; An aerodrome comprising 'a plane, a

series of upper ribs, a sense of lower ribs for said plane and a slidable connection between the ends of one set of ribs and the other set.

aerodrome comprising a suitable.

said plane, and means for slidably connecting the ends of oneset of ribs to the other set.

14..An aerodrome comprising a plane, a series of upper ribs, a series of lower ribs for said plane, tips on one set of ribs and means for efl'ecting a sliding connection between the said tips and the ends of the other set of ribs 15. A plane for an aerodrome comprising .two sets of ribs, a metallic tip on the end of each rib of one set, and means for eflecting a sliding connection between the tips of one set of ribs and the ends of the other set. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses;

HARRY A. Witnesses:

C. M. FORREST, 7 C. HUGH DUFFY. 

